MARECHAL, Ambrose (mah-ray-shal), archbishop, born in Ingre, near Orleans, France, 5 December, 1768; died in Baltimore, Maryland, 29 January, 1828. He was educated in a college in Orleans, and early manifested a desire to enter the clerical profession, but yielded to the views of his parents and studied law. Afterward, gaining his parents' consent, he entered on a course of ecclesiastical studies in the Sulpician seminary of Orleans. He went to Paris toward the end of 1791, but was forced to fly from the city early in 1792, and was ordained priest in Bordeaux at the risk of his life.

Immediately afterward he was forced to disguise himself, fled to Havre, and embarked for the United States, arriving in Baltimore, 24 June, 1792. His first mission was in St. Mary's county, Maryland, where he remained for a few years. He was then assigned to the Bohemian station on the eastern shore of this state, where he labored till 1799. He was next appointed professor of theology in St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, at the same time filling the chair of philosophy in Georgetown College for several months.

He was recalled to France by his superiors in 1803, in order to assist in reorganizing the institutions of the Sulpician order, and taught theology in Aix and Lyons successively till 1811, when, the Sulpicians having been suppressed by an imperial decree, he was sent back to the United States, and, resuming his chair in St. Mary's, was for a time president of the institution.

Shortly after his return he was nominated bishop of Philadelphia, but declined. He was afterward nominated coadjutor to the Archbishop of Baltimore, and consecrated in that city, 14 December, 1817. Disturbances had arisen in the diocese, owing to the claim of lay trustees to a voice in the appointment of priests. Archbishop Marechal showed much wisdom and prudence in defense of what he considered his rights, and succeeded in restoring peace.

On 31 May, 1821, he dedicated the cathedral of Baltimore, which had been begun by Archbishop Carroll in 1806. The walls of this structure had stood for several years only a few feet above the ground, and its completion was entirely due to Archbishop Marechal. The marble altar was a present from the priests of Marseilles, who had studied theology under him, and the paintings and other fine objects of art were also sent to him from France by some of his old pupils.

In October, 1821, he went to Rome in the interests of his diocese, and he visited Canada in 1826 with the same object. On his return he went to Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he was attacked by the disease of which he died.

Besides being thoroughly versed in theology, Archbishop Marechal was well acquainted with general literature and mathematics. He left various manuscripts behind him treating of several branches of the latter science. He published "Pastoral Letters of Archbishop Carroll to the Congregation of Trinity Church. Philadelphia, in 1797, and of Archbishop Marechal to that of Norfolk in 1819 " (2d ed., Baltimore, 1819).

Edited Appletons Encyclopedia by John Looby, Copyright © 2001 Virtualology^TM

MARECHAL, Ambrose (mah-ray-shal), archbishop, born in Ingre, near Orleans, France, 5 December, 1768; died in Baltimore, Maryland, 29 January, 1828. He was educated in a college in Orleans, and early manifested a desire to enter the clerical profession, but yielded to the views of his parents and studied law. Afterward, gaining his parents' consent, he entered on a course of ecclesiastical studies in the Sulpitian seminary of Orleans. He went to Paris toward the end of 1791, but was forced to fly from the city early in 1792, and was ordained priest in Bordeaux at the risk of his life. Immediately afterward he was forced to disguise himself, fled to Havre, and embarked for the United States, arriving in Baltimore, 24 June, 1792. His first mission was in St. Mary's county, Maryland, where he remained for a few years. He was then assigned to the Bohemian station on the eastern shore of this state, where he labored till 1799. He was next appointed professor of theology in St. Mary's seminary, Baltimore, at the same time filling the chair of philosophy in Georgetown college for several months. He was recalled to France by his superiors in 1803, in order to assist in reorganizing . the institutions of the Sulpitian order, and taught theology in Aix and Lyons successively till 1811, when, the Sulpitians having' been suppressed by all imperial decree, he was sent back to the United States, and, resuming his chair in St. Mary's, was for a time president of the institution. Shortly after his return he was nominated bishop of Philadelphia, but declined. He was afterward nominated coadjutor to the Archbishop of Baltimore, and consecrated in that city, 14 December, 1817. Disturbances had arisen in the diocese, owing to the claim of lay trustees to a voice in the appointment of priests. Archbishop Marechal showed much wisdom and prudence in defence of what he considered his rights, and succeeded in restoring peace. On 31 May, 1821, he dedicated the cathedral of Baltimore, which had been begun by Archbishop Carroll in 1806. The walls of this structure had stood for several years only a few feet above the ground, and its completion was entirely due to Archbishop Marechal. The marble altar was a present from the priests of Marseilles, who had studied theology under him, and the paintings and other fine objects of art were also sent to him from France by some of his old pupils. In October, 1821, he went to Rome in the interests of his diocese, and he visited Canada in 1826 with the same object. On his return he went to Emmettsburg, Maryland, where he was attacked by the disease of which he died. Besides being" thoroughly versed in theology, Archbishop Marechal was well acquainted with general literature and mathematics. He left various manuscripts behind him treating of several branches of the latter science. He published "Pastoral Letters of Archbishop Carroll to the Congregation of Trinity Church. Philadelphia, in 1797, and of Archbishop Marechal to that of Norfolk in 1819 " (2d ed., Baltimore, 1819).

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Samuel Huntington
First President of the United States of America
in Congress Assembled
March 1, 1781 to July 6, 1781

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